Friday, September 5, 2008

This was my Thank You gift for my sister. I found this adorable 8 x 10 pink frame at Big Lots (for those who don't know Big Lots, it's a store that sells seconds and overstock).copywrite Stampin' UP! 1989-2008

And then I made these 5 x 7 frames for her to sell for me.

I thought that they would be perfect for a Mary Kay consultant to place on her display table (next to her business cards) when having a party.

A little while ago I made these notebooks and pens.They are for my sister Mary Kay (yup....that's really her name) to sell for me to all of her Mary Kay friends.These were 6x6 notebooks that I picked up a Michael's. I covered them in cardstock and Designer Series Paper.Pink, White & Black...that's Mary Kay colors. It was actually sorta difficult to stick with 'only' those colors. There are a couple of other colors thrown in at times.There are some Stampin' UP! items used....mostly, I used what I found in my stash.Sorry about the blurry images...I had to hurry & get them photographed so I could pack them up to be transported from California (where I live) to Michigan (where my sister lives). My parents were taking a road trip out to MI and that saved me mega-bucks in shipping costs.I've got more to share in the next posts also.copywrite Stampin' UP! 1989-2008

Saturday, April 5, 2008

My son may only be 6, but he knows his way around a thank you card. Even before he was born, he was sending off thank you's to family and friends, once for that cute dinosaur outfit and another for a set of classic children's books.

Until last year, I did all the work, but now that Joseph's in kindergarten, he's doing more than just printing his name at the bottom of the card. He enjoys drawing trains and Star Wars figures and self-portraits on his cards and we get stories back about how his artistic efforts find an honored place on fridge doors and office cubicles.

So while the e-mail thank you may be easy, nothing beats a handwritten missive. I don't think one of my father's last notes to me would mean as much if he had not written it in his wide, round doctor's scrawl.

Longtime Glendoran Kathy Janicki knows what I'm talking about.

Janicki has been honing her crafting skills for more than 10 years, even before she began demonstrating for the Stampin Up company. She will lead a free greeting card workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the library, 140 S. Glendora Ave.

Supplies will be provided but space is limited to 30 participants.

Janicki is an expert at making greeting cards, scrapbooking, craft projects and home décor, so much so that family and friends consider her cards a gift.

"It's fun, it's a stress reliever," she said. "It's my fun job."

Participants don't have to be uber-crafty to get in on the fun. Everyone will walk away with three handmade cards, one for Mother's Day, another for Father's Day, and one birthday card for a child.

"Making your own greeting cards is special because it comes from the heart, it's not something that was just rolled off a press," Janicki said. "It's something you've taken the time to do, and it's really a piece of yourself."

Janicki said her work is all about being a creative coach.

"For me, helping someone create that perfect project for a special occasion is the best feeling in the entire world," she said. "After all, creating cards, scrapbook pages, and gift items are about more than just stamps and ink, it's about sharing a part of yourself with the people you love."

And if you can't make this workshop, take heart. The library folks are cooking up more craft sessions with Janicki and other creative types, the better to inspire us not-so-handy ones.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Wow!I was interviewed last night!Wow!By the Glendora Press (my city's paper)!Wow!I am SOOO jazzed!My very first interview!I'M GONNA BE FAMOUS FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS!!WOOHOO!!he he

.....needless to say, I was pleasantly shocked to get a message asking me to call for an interview.

Apparently it came about because I have been doing scrapbook and card classes at my library here: Glendora Public Library. And, I have my scrapbooks, cards & gifts, etc displayed in the library display cases right now.

She said that the story will run in the Glendora Press on March 27th. And, my card making class is on Saturday, March 29th. So, if you want to come, please make sure you call the Glendora Library at 626-852-4891 and sign up. The class is FREE! However, the class is only limited to 30 people!

My library is wonderful!! Our community is so blessed to have such a fantastic library. And the people who work and volunteer there are so warm and caring. I LOVE my library!

Not only does the library have a very large selection of books, books on cd, music cd's & dvd's, they also will 'borrow' books from other libraries (ILL ~ Inter-Library Loan). I that service! I use it quite a bit! And ~ there is a bookstore run by the Friends of the Library Foundation. It's upstairs & sells books, music, movies & more. They also have children & adult reading programs, guest speakers, crafts for kids...lots and lots of things to do!Have I said yet that I LOVE my library!? ...I just wanted to share my good news.

Friday, February 22, 2008

I've always wanted to make one of these cute little critters.And, it was sooo easy!The hardest part was cutting out the flowers!I know it's a bit plain looking.....decided to keep it that way.

copywrite Stampin' UP! 1989-2008All supplies Stampin' UP! unless otherwise noted.Stamps: All through the yearCardstock: Confetti White, Always Artichoke, Cutie Pie DSPInk: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose RedAccessories: the bling in the middle of the flowers are sticky-backed rhinestones that were loose. so, I don't know where they came from.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Stampin' UP! offers Regionals (sorta like a mini convention) throughout the year in several cities. Since it was in Anaheim, CA (which is only half an hour from my house), several of us attended.It was great! I really enjoyed it and wish it was local more often.These are the cards I made for swapping with the other demonstrators there.The first card uses only one stamp; the word kind from the Baroque Motif set. Everything else was cardstock (Rose Red, Blue Bayou, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal & Confetti White), DSP (Cutie Pie), narrow white grosgrain ribbon & punches (large & small oval, 1 1/4" circle, designer tag).

copywrite Stampin' UP! 1989-2008The second card also has the Cutie Pie DSP, Rose Red, Apricot Appeal & Confetti White cardstock, Round scallop punch, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" circle punches, White Craft ink & the sentiment is from SU's Holiday's & Wishes stamp set.The technique is so, so simple. It just takes a bit of patience. I took a strip of 12" DSP & trimmed off about 1/3" (or so). Then I put mono-adhesive all the way down the back of it & started at the bottom of the card. I slowly folded it back & forth to create 'flaps' all the way up the card. (FYI: the closer the 'flaps', the more DSP you will use. So, be careful not to make too many otherwise you won't have enough to go all the way up to the top of the card.)

These are the cutest tags! I have a friend who orders from me for holidays. I made tags similar to these for Christmas for her & she loved them so much she asked me to make some for Valentine's Day. Two days before Valentine's Day! copywrite Stampin' UP! 1989-2008Sorry, I just couldn't get a clear pix.So, I whipped these up (thank goodness she only wanted 30 of them!) Her name is Keilani (Hawaiian). So, of course, she always wants something Hawaiian on anything I make for her.

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the fine print

The content of this blog is my sole responsibility as an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator and the use of, and content of, the classes, services, or products offered on this blog is not endorsed by Stampin' Up!

All content, including designs, concepts, text, and photographs are for your personal enjoyment and inspiration. Please feel free to copy my artwork for your personal use. However, it may not be used for submissions, contests, publications, etc. Thank you so much for your understanding and support!

favorite quotes

It is never too late to be what you might have been. ~ George Eliot

True friendship is a knot that angel hands have tied. -Anonymous

Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless. ~ Mother Teresa

Values are like fingerprints. Nobody's are the same, but you leave 'em all over everything you do. ~ Elvis Presley

Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest. ~ Mark Twain

authors I love

Bella Andre very sexy reading

Christine Feehan Paranormal/Dark series & Drake Sister series are what I like the most

Diana Gabaldon Time Travel/Outlander series...my favorite series ever

Earlene Fowler Mystery/Benni Harper series...wonderful.

J.K. Rowling what an imagination!

Jan Burke excellent mystery writer

Janet Evanovich ....laugh out loud funny

Jen Weiner love her! she makes me laugh and cry

Jennifer Crusie quirky characters

Jill Winters great writing

Karen Marie Moning Celtic time travel and Celtic lore...what's more to love?